The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-08-17

Grief of Her Wealthy Parents-The Minister
Thought She Was a MuIatto.
New York Tribune.
On Saturday, July 80, Jennie Winter. aged six
teen was married Co James Mann. aged twenty
one, a farm hand on the big Havemeyer stock
farm near Darlington. Bergen county. N. j.
Jennie is as fair q lily. and Mann is negro.
The ceremony was performed by the Rev. Mr..
Mansfield. rector of the Suffern, n. Y, Protest
ant Episcopal Church, and the couple are living
in little house on the Ridge, about half mile
east of Darlington. Jennie is the daughter of
Richard Winter, of Oakland a retired farmer
and large property holder, who is now in ILL
health and is about ffty-five years old He was
found yesterday az Darlington at the homo of
Mrs Edward Rogers a married daughter, and
told the following story:
II do not know when my daughter Jennie
became acquainted with Mann. but I think she
has known him for month. She fre
Quently visited the Havemeyer farm, and had
no to suppose that anything of such
nature was developing She left home two
weeks ago to-day, in the morning, and did not
return at night. | supposed she here at
my daughters. Next day I heard the rumor
that she was married to Mann and was living on
the Ridge. You may imagine ms feelings. I
went to Mann's brothers house. where it was
said they were staying, and sure enough found
Jennie / asked her to come with me, and she
said she wouldn't I asked her why. and she
made answer but much confused.
Meantime a little colored girl had gone to find
Mann and brought him home. I told him had
come for Jennie, and he said couldn't take her
I asked him what he meant by such conduct,
and he went to another room and returned with
a marriage certificate. / did not stay long for I
hardly knew what was doing. l came here to
my daughters and have not Jennie
since"
At this point Mr.. Winter broke down and big
tears coursed down his cheeks. Neither Mann
his young bride could be yesterday.
He still works on the Havemeyer farm. The
reporter next visited the Rev. Mr.. Mansfield at
Suffren. He said he performed the ceremony
but asserted that the girl was a muIatto, or at
least had negro blood in her veins. On being
much surprise and said he was confident that
witnesses to the ceremony. members of his
household, were under the same impression as
himself. Jennie, according Mr.. Mansfield
and the parish register, swore that she
eighteen years old. Her father saws she was
sixteen in July. Mr.. Mansfield said:
'Of course, If she had stated that she only
sixteen. / would not have married them. but she
looks as If she were even elder than eighteen. 1
am very much averse to any publicity being
given to my name in connection with matter
of this kind. but am, nevertheless, glad of
opportunity to state publicly that until you
called l was ignorant of the fact that the girl
occurred the legality OF my act cannot be ques-
toned, as am not responsible il the girl lied
to me concerning her age"
Mr.. Mansfield may have been imposed upon
by blacking-up trick. Mr. Winters offer to
deed Jennie house and lot if che would return
home proved unavailing. She is evidently con-
tent in her position. A witness OF the wed
the facts. in unfeigned surprise exclaimed:
why. / thought she was a darkey. Public
opinion in Rockland county seems to condemn
the union uneq uvocallv, and the girls relatives
feel themselves disgraced by the marriage and
are the objects of much sympathy.